The Cosmos was originally all hydrogen and helium. Heavier elements were made in red giants and supernovas, and then blown off into space, where they were available for subsequent generations of stars and planets. Our sun is probably a 3rd generation star. Except for hydrogen and helium, every atom in the Sun and the Earth was synthesized in other stars. The silicon in the rocks, the oxygen in the air, the carbon in our DNA, the gold in our banks, the uranium in our arsenals, were all made thousands of light years away and billions of years ago. Our planet, our society, and we ourselves, are built of star-stuff.

All the elements of the Earth except hydrogen and some helium have been cooked by a kind of stellar alchemy billions of years ago in stars, some of which are today inconspicuous white dwarfs on the other side of the Milky Way Galaxy. The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.

Because the cosmos is also within us. We're made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.

DELENN: The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station, and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are star-stuff, we are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out.

From that pure fount, with renovated pow'r
I rose, prepar'd to leave that happy Shore,
And mount among the Stars, on ardent wing.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 27]

I return’d
From the most holy wave, regenerate,
If ’en as new plants renew’d with foliage new,
Pure and made apt for mounting to the stars.
[tr. Cary (1814)]

Returned I from that holiest of waves
Refreshed in spirit, like the new-sprung plants,
Renewed with foliage suited to their wants,
Pure, and disposed to climb unto the stars.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

From the most holy water I returned
Regenerate, in the manner of new trees
That are renewed with a new foliage,
Pure and disposed to mount unto the stars.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

I turned back from the most holy wave refect in such wise as new plants renewed with new foliage, pure and disposed to mount up to the stars.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

I turnèd back from those most holy waves
Created fresh, as plants made new once more,
Renewèd through the birth of new green leaves,
Pure, and prepared unto the stars to soar.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

I returned from the most holy wave, renovated as new plants renewed with new foliage, pure and disposed to mount unto the stars.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

I came back from the most holy waves, born again, even as new trees renewed with new foliage, pure and ready to mount to the stars.
[tr. Okey (1901)]

From the most holy waters I came forth again remade, even as new plants renewed with new leaves, pure and ready to mount to the stars.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

Back from that wave's most holy privilege
I turned me, re-made, as the plant repairs
Itself, renewed with its new foliage.
Pure and disposed to mount up to the stars.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

From those most holy waters, born anew
I came, like trees by change of calendars
Renewed with new-sprung foliage through and through,
Pure and prepared to leap up to the stars.
[tr. Sayers (1955)]

I came back from those holiest waters new,
remade, reborn, like a sun-wakened tree
that spreads new foliage to the Spring dew
in sweetest freshness, healed of Winter's scars;
perfect, pure, and ready for the stars.
[tr. Ciardi (1961)]

I came forth from the most holy waves, renovated even as new trees renewed with new foliage, pure and ready to rise to the stars.
[tr. Singleton (1973)]

From those holiest waters I returned
to her reborn, a tree renewed, in bloom
with newborn foliage, immaculate,
eager to rise, now ready for the stars.
[tr. Musa (1981)]

I came back from that most sacred of streams,
Made afresh, as new trees are renewed
With their new foliage, and so I was
Clear and ready to go up to the stars.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

From that most holy wave I now returned
to Beatrice; remade, as new trees are
renewed when they bring forth new boughs, I was
pure and prepared to climb unto the stars.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1982)]

I came back, from the most sacred waves, remade, as fresh plants are, refreshed, with fresh leaves: pure, and ready to climb to the stars.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

I returned from the most holy wave refreshed, as new plants are renewed with new leaves,
pure and made ready to rise to the stars.
[tr. Durling (2003)]

From those most holy waters
I came away remade, as are new plants
renewed with new-sprung leaves,
pure and prepared to rise up to the stars.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

Those holiest of waters returned me to life,
Recovered like new trees which quickly grow
New branches and new leaves. I'd been purified,
Ready to rise where sanctified souls can go.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]

My Guide and I, to the bright World attain,
Enter'd this secret path; not took repose.
We leaped up, he first, I foll'wing him;
'Till through a space round formed I beheld
Those beauteous sights which are in Heav'n display'd:
And thence we rose to view again the Stars.
[tr. Rogers (1782), l. 130ff]

Still up the wave-worn cliff the Mantuan press'd,
I follow'd faint, deny'd a moment's rest;
'Till dim and dubious thro' the rocks on high,
A ray of welcome light disclos'd our path;
Joyful we left the shadowy realms of death,
And hail'd the op'ning glories of the sky.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 27]

By that hidden way
My guide and I did enter, to return
To the fair world: and heedless of repose
We climbed, he first, I following his steps,
Till on our view the beautiful lights of heav’n
Dawn’d through a circular opening in the cave:
Thus issuing we again beheld the stars.
[tr. Cary (1814)]

To seek return to daylight world sublime
My guide and I that darksome path explored,
And while he first, I second, 'gan to climb,
No care to rest us might our haste afford,
Till through a rounded opening I saw plain
The glorious things in part which heaven doth hoard,
And thence we rose to view the stars again.
[tr. Dayman (1843)]

The Guide and I entered by that hidden road, to return to the bright world; and without caring for any rest,
we mounted up, he first and I second, so far that I distinguished through a round opening the beauteous things which Heaven bears;
and thence we issued out, again to see the Stars.
[tr. Carlyle (1849)]

The leader and myself through pathway hid
Entered, returning to the world that's clear.
Of no reposing had we any care:
We mounted up; he first, the second I.
Through round and hollowed opening, saw afar
The heave, and all the beauteous things it bore;
And then we issued to review the stars.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

My chief and I, following this hidden path,
Set forth on our return to the bright world;
Having no thought nor care for any rest,
Upwards we clomb, he first and second I,
Till I at length through a round opening saw
Those beauteous things which with the heavens revolve;
Thence we went forth once more to see the stars.
[tr. Johnston (1867)]

The Guide and I into that hidden road
Now entered, to return to the bright world;
And without care of having any rest ⁠
We mounted up, he first and I the second,
Till I beheld through a round aperture
Some of those beauteous things which Heaven doth bear;
Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

Through that hidden road my Leader and I entered to return into the bright world; and without having a care of any rest we mounted up, he first and I second, so far that I had sight of the fair objects which the Heaven bears, through a round opening; and thence we issued to see again the stars.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

My chief and I by that mysterious way
Entered, the world of light again to find:
Nor with the thought of rest did we delay,
But clambered up, he first, and I behind.
Until I witnessed through that rounded bore
The things so fair athwart the heavens that shined,
And issued thence to see the stars once more.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

My Leader and I entered through that hidden way, to return to the bright world. And without care, to have any repose, we mounted up, he first and I second, till through a round opening I saw of those beauteous things which heaven bears, and thence we came forth to see again the stars.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

My Guide and I went in by that darksome way that we might reach the world of light again; and unconcerned for any thought of rest, we went aloft, he first and I behind, so high that, through a rounded chink, I could behold the beauteous gems which Heaven weareth; and thence came we forth to look once more upon the stars.
[tr. Sullivan (1893)]

My guide and I upon that hidden pathway
Entered to make return to the world of
brightness ; And, without taking thought of any resting,
We mounted up, he first and I the second.
So far that I had sight of things of beauty
Borne on the firmament, through a round loophole:
Thence came we forth to see the starry heavens.
[tr. Griffith (1908)]

The Leader and I entered on that hidden road to return into the bright world, and without caring to have any rest we climbed up, he first and I second, so far that I saw through a round opening some of the fair things that Heaven bears; and thence we can forth to see again the stars.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

The Guide and I, entering that secret road,
Toiled to return into the world of light.
Nor thought on any resting-place bestowed.
We climbed, he first, I following, till to sight
Appeared those things of beauty that heaven wears
Glimpsed through a rounded opening, faintly bright;
Thence issuing, we beheld again the stars.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

By that hid way my guide and I withal,
Back to the lit world from the darkened dens
Toiled upward, caring for no rest at all,
He first, I following; till my straining sense
Glimpsed the bright burden of the heavenly cars
Through a round hole; by this we climbed, and thence
Came forth, to look once more upon the stars.
[tr. Sayers (1949)]

My Guide and I crossed over and began
to mount that little known and lightless road
to ascend into the shining world again.
He first, I second, without thought of rest
we climbed the dark until we reached the point
where a round opening brought in sight the blest
and beauteous shining of the Heavenly cars.
And we walked out once more beneath the stars.
[tr. Ciardi (1954)]

My leader and I entered on that hidden road to return into the bright world; and caring not for any rest, we climbed up, hie first and I second, so far that through a round opening I saw some of the beautiful things that Heaven bears; and thence we issued forth to see again the stars.
[tr. Singleton (1970)]

My guide and I entered that hidden road
to make our way back up to the bright world.
We never thought of resting while we climbed.
We climbed, he first and I behind, until,
through a small round opening ahead of us
I saw the lovely things the heavens hold,
and we came out to see once more the stars.
[tr. Musa (1971)]

My guide and I came on that hidden road
to make our way back into the bright world;
and with no care for any rest, we climbed
he first, I following -- until I saw,
through a round opening, some of those things
of beauty Heaven bears. It was from there
that we emerged, to see -- once more -- the stars.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1980)]

My guide and I started out on that road,
Through its obscurity to return to the bright world;
And not worrying about taking any rest,
We mounted up, he first and I second,
So that I saw some of the lovely things
That are in the heavens, through a round opening;
And then we emerged to see the stars again.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

To get back up to the shining world from there
My guide and I went into that hidden tunnel;
And following its path, we took no care
To rest, but climbed: he first, then I -- so far,
Through a round aperture I saw appear
Some of the beautiful things that Heaven bears,
Where we came forth, and once more saw the stars.
[tr. Pinsky (1994)]

My leader and I entered on that hidden path to return to the bright world; and, without taking care for rest at all,
up we climbed, he first and I second, until I saw the beautiful things the heavens carry, through a round opening.
And thence we came forth to look again at the stars.
[tr. Durling (1996)]

The guide and I entered by that hidden path, to return to the clear world: and, not caring to rest, we climbed up, he first, and I second, until, through a round opening, I saw the beautiful things that the sky holds: and we issued out, from there, to see, again, the stars.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

My guide and I began that hidden route
to journey back into the world of light;
and caring not for rest, but resolute,
we climbed and climbed until we caught a sight,
beyond a rounded opening, of store on store
of things of Heavenly delight;
and we emerged to see the stars once more.
[tr. Carson (2002)]

Into that hidden passage my guide and I
entered, to find again the world of light,
and, without thinking of a moment's rest,
we climbed up, he first and I behind him,
far enough to see, through a round opening,
a few of those fair things the heavens bear.
Then we came forth, to see again the stars.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

My leader and I followed that unknown road,
Which showed us how to return to the shining world,
Nor did we stop for a moment, needing no rest,
Climbing steadily, he in the lead, I next,
Ascending so far that through a circular hole
I could see a few of the beautiful things in Heaven.
And then we came out, and saw the stars again.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]

My Guide and I were on the hidden road
That leads back out to where the world is bright.
No need for rest. We bore an easy load:
The task of getting back to the sweet light.
And up we went, he first, I second, to
The point where I could see an opening.
And it was there I saw, when I looked through,
A sight more wonderful than anything --
some of the loveliness revealed to men
By Heaven. We could see the star again.
[tr. James (2013), l. 153ff]

As when about the silver moon, when air is free from wind,
And stars shine clear, to whose sweet beams, high prospects, and the brows
Of all steep hills and pinnacles, thrust up themselves for shows,
And ev’n the lowly valleys joy to glitter in their sight,
When the unmeasur’d firmament bursts to disclose her light,
And all the signs in heav’n are seen, that glad the shepherd’s heart.
[tr. Chapman (1611), l. 486ff]

As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,
O'er heaven's clear azure spreads her sacred light,
When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene;
Around her throne the vivid planets roll,
And stars unnumbered gild the glowing pole,
O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed,
And tip with silver every mountain's head;
Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise,
A flood of glory bursts from all the skies:
The conscious swains, rejoicing in the sight,
Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light.
[tr. Pope (1715-20)]

As when around the clear bright moon, the stars
Shine in full splendor, and the winds are hush’d,
The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland-heights
Stand all apparent, not a vapor streaks
The boundless blue, but ether open’d wide
All glitters, and the shepherd’s heart is cheer’d.
[tr. Cowper (1791), l. 643ff]

As when in heaven the stars appear very conspicuous around the lucid moon, when the æther is wont to be without a breeze, and all the pointed rocks and lofty summits and groves appear, but in heaven the immense æther is disclosed, and all the stars are seen, and the shepherd rejoices in his soul.
[tr. Buckley (1860)]

As when in Heav'n, around the glitt'ring moon
The stars shine bright amid the breathless air;
And ev'ry crag and ev'ry jutting peak
Stands boldly forth, and ev'ry forest glade;
Ev'n to the gates of Heav'n is open'd wide
The boundless sky; shines each particular star
Distinct; joy fills the gazing shepherd's heart.
[tr. Derby (1864), ll. 629-35]

Even as when in heaven the stars about the bright moon shine clear to see, when the air is windless, and all the peaks appear and the tall headlands and glades, and from heaven breaketh open the infinite air, and all stars are seen, and the shepherd’s heart is glad.
[tr. Leaf/Lang/Myers (1891)]

As when the stars shine clear, and the moon is bright -- there is not a breath of air, not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland but it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven; the stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd is glad.
[tr. Butler (1898)]

Even as in heaven about the gleaming moon the stars shine clear, when the air is windless, and forth to view appear all mountain peaks and high headlands and glades, and from heaven breaketh open the infinite air, and all stars are seen, and the shepherd joyeth in his heart.
[tr. Murray (1924)]

As when in heaven principal stars shine out around the moon when the night sky is limpid, with no wind, and all the lookout points, headlands, and mountain clearings are distinctly seen, as though pure space had broken through, downward from heaven, and all the stars are out, and in his heart the shepherd sings.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1974)]